INTERGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION ELEMENT

Introduction

The purpose of the Intergovernmental Coordination Element is 1) to identify and resolve incompatibilities between Miami-Dade County's comprehensive planning and growth management processes and those of other governmental entities within the County's area of concern, and 2) to review existing, and propose improved coordination of, processes for comprehensive planning and growth management between Miami-Dade County, local governmental entities within its area of concern, and regional, State and federal agencies. The thirty-four municipalities within Miami-Dade (See Figure 1), the three adjacent counties and the adjacent municipalities within these counties are listed on Table 1. The major regional, State and federal entities with which Miami-Dade County must coordinate its planning and growth management are listed on Table 2.

Intergovernmental coordination has been and remains a hallmark of Miami-Dade County government. Concern over the ability of the fragmented local governments to effectively plan and manage the emerging Greater Miami metropolis was the impetus for the establishment of the two-tier -- areawide and local -- approach to government in 1957. Even though the County encompassed relatively few local governmental entities at that time (one quarter of the 120-unit average for metropolitan areas of similar size), the "streamlining" of governance was a primary objective of the voters in establishing the metropolitan government. No net change occurred between 1957 and 1995 in the number of municipalities. Since 1995, nine additional areas have been incorporated; and one municipality, Islandia, was abolished by County Ordinance 12-14, in 2012. Miami-Dade has made significant strides in governmental coordination in two other ways. Masked by the relative stability in number of local government units is the dramatic metropolitanization of responsibilities that have taken place in such services as water supply and distribution, sewage collection and disposal, solid waste disposal, fire protection, libraries and transportation, all of which has greatly facilitated intergovernmental coordination. In addition, Miami-Dade County government has structured many of its administrative and operating units, such as the Development Impact Committee, the Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources and the Miami-Dade County Public Housing and Community Development, to facilitate coordination with their regional, State and federal counterparts.

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CURRENT MUNICIPALITIES AND UNINCORPORATED MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

1. MIAMI
2. MIAMI BEACH
3. CORAL GABLES
4. HIALEAH
5. MIAMI SPRINGS
6. NORTH MIAMI
7. NORTH MIAMI BEACH
8. OPA-LOCKA
9. SOUTH MIAMI
10. HOMESTEAD
11. MIAMI SHORES
12. BAL HARBOUR
13. BAY HARBOR ISLANDS
14. SURFSIDE
15. WEST MIAMI
16. FLORIDA CITY
17. BISCAYNE PARK
18. EL PORTAL
19. GOLDEN BEACH
20. PINECREST
21. INDIAN CREEK VILLAGE
22. MEDLEY
23. NORTH BAY VILLAGE
24. KEY BISCAYNE
25. SWEETWATER
26. VIRGINIA GARDENS
27. HIALEAH GARDENS
28. AVENTURA
29. SUNNY ISLES BEACH
30. MIAMI LAKES
31. PALMETTO BAY
32. MIAMI GARDENS
33. DORAL
34. CUTLER BAY
35. UNINCORPORATED MIAMI-DADE COUNTY

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Figure 1

CURRENT MUNICIPALITIES AND UNINCORPORATED MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FEBRUARY 2013

DEPARTMENT OF REGULATORY AND ECONOMIC RESOURCES

Effective comprehensive planning has also been a central focus of the Miami-Dade government from the onset. The power to "prepare and enforce comprehensive plans for the development of the county" was one of twenty-four specified in the County Home Rule Charter in 1957 and a Department of Planning is one of the four departments required by the County Home Rule Charter. The County adopted its first land use plan in 1965 and has since enacted a series of increasingly more refined growth management plans and procedures as required by the Local Government Comprehensive Planning Act of 1975 as amended from time to time.

In summary, Miami-Dade has a forty-seven year history of intergovernmental coordination for effective comprehensive planning and plan implementation. This element provides a review of this coordination and identifies selected aspects in need of change.

Table 1

Local Governments Within Miami-Dade County Area of Concern

Miami-Dade County Municipalities and Public Schools

Table 2

Regional, State and Federal Intergovernmental Coordination Participants

GOAL

USE INTERGOVERNMENTAL COORDINATION AS A MAJOR MEANS OF ENSURING CONSISTENCY AMONG LOCAL, COUNTY, REGIONAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT PLANS AND POLICIES AND OF IMPLEMENTING MIAMI-DADE COUNTY'S COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT MASTER PLAN.

Objective ICE-1

Maintain and improve coordination of planning, development and impact assessment among governmental entities with applicable responsibilities within Miami-Dade County's area of concern¹

Policies

ICE-1A. Make full use of the coordination mechanisms built into the intergovernmental review and comment provisions of the Community Planning Act to seek consistency between the Miami-Dade County Comprehensive Development Master Plan (CDMP) and the local comprehensive plans of Miami-Dade municipalities; Broward, Collier and Monroe Counties; and the adjacent municipalities of Hallandale Beach, Pembroke Park and Miramar within Broward County.

ICE-1B. Continue to utilize intergovernmental planning workshops to provide informal coordination of the Miami-Dade County Comprehensive Development Master Plan and the local comprehensive plans of Miami-Dade municipalities.

ICE-1C. Continue to participate on the Miami-Dade County Planners’ Technical Committee to better interpret and coordinate local comprehensive planning issues and processes with other local jurisdiction and agencies in Miami-Dade County, the South Florida Regional Planning Council and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

ICE-1D. In subsequent comprehensive plans, amendments and/or updates, seek to consider local, County agencies and regional comprehensive plans as necessary to better reflect Regional/County/City division of local and areawide comprehensive planning, development regulation and services provision, for consistency with the County’s CDMP.

ICE-1E. Review the effectiveness of the Development of County Impact procedures as a means of improving development coordination between Miami-Dade County and municipalities within the County.

ICE-1F. Miami-Dade County shall consider compatibility with adopted land use plans of adjacent municipalities as a factor in reviewing proposed changes to the Land Use Plan map or to a municipal plan.

ICE-1G. Provide for County-city exchange of notification and information of requests for change of zoning within the vicinity of unincorporated area municipal boundaries. Notice of requested zone changes and applications to amend the CDMP Land Use Plan map shall be provided to owners of record of real property and adjacent local governments, in accordance with applicable County procedures without regard to County boundaries.

ICE-1H. Miami-Dade County shall continue coordinating with the Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) through the Interlocal Agreement for Public School Facility Planning between Miami-Dade County and Miami-Dade County Public Schools, implementation of the Educational Element of the Comprehensive Development Master Plan, the Educational Compact and other appropriate means to improve service delivery to the community.

ICE-1I. Miami-Dade County shall utilize the South Florida Regional Planning Council's non-binding dispute resolution process when necessary to mediate the resolution of conflicts with other local governments and regional agencies, or may use alternative procedures, including agreements authorized by Section 163.3177(h)1a, F.S.

ICE-1J. Miami-Dade County shall increase interaction between its Metropolitan Planning Organization and those of Broward, Monroe and Palm Beach Counties and with Miami-Dade municipalities to improve intra-regional and intra-county transportation coordination and to coordinate strategies for strengthening international trade.

ICE-1K. The Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources shall enhance water/land database sharing with the South Florida Water Management District.

ICE-1L. Make use of informal or formal mediation processes when possible to resolve disputes arising from amendments to the Miami-Dade County Comprehensive Development Master Plan.

ICE-1M. Encourage the development of a regional forum to address the needs and strategies for providing and developing public services and facilities as well as to enable intergovernmental review of regionally significant public facilities which involve locally unwanted land uses.

ICE-1N. Support the establishment of a coordinated regional transit system for the transportation disadvantaged.

ICE-1O. Promote a partnership among local governments, FDOT, and MPOs to meet intermodal and infrastructure needs of transportation systems such as advanced ROW acquisition and the demands of airports and seaports.

ICE-1P. Miami-Dade County shall work cooperatively with other local governments to identify opportunities for affordable housing.

ICE-1Q. Encourage the establishment of joint funding cycles for federal, State and local affordable housing programs.

ICE-1R. Miami-Dade County and the Florida Board of Trustees, on behalf of Florida International University, shall abide by the Campus Development Agreement executed between the Florida Board of Trustees (formerly Regents) and Miami-Dade County on October 24, 1996, implementing the requirements of Section 1013.30(11)-(15), F.S., regarding campus master plans. The Campus Development Agreement may be amended from time to time pursuant to Section 1013.30(19), F.S.

ICE-1S. Miami-Dade County and the Miami-Dade County Public Schools shall follow the procedures established in the adopted Interlocal Agreement for Public School Facilities Planning for coordination and collaborative planning and decision making of land uses; public school facilities siting, decision making on population projections, location and extension of public facilities subject to concurrency, and siting of facilities with a countywide significance.

ICE-1T. During pre-development program planning and site selection activities, Miami-Dade County Internal Services Department and other facility and service providers shall coordinate with the Miami-Dade County Public School System to consider all reasonable opportunities to collocate new libraries, parks, and other public facilities with public schools, where compatible and the potential exists to create logical focal

points for community activity. Early review and coordination activities will be modified as necessary to timely consider these potentials.

ICE-1U. Miami-Dade County shall work cooperatively with the City of Miami to ensure consistent application of development regulations that provide for the seamless continuation of a recreational trail along the length of the Ludlam Trail Corridor for those portions of the corridor located within the boundary of the City of Miami.

Objective ICE-2

Coordinate with local, regional, and State entities with responsibility in the establishment of Level of Service Standards.

Policies

ICE-2A. Miami-Dade County shall continue to establish Level of Service Standards for areawide services Countywide and for local services within the unincorporated area.

ICE-2B. Miami-Dade County shall continue to coordinate with the Miami-Dade County Public Schools and other parties the adopted Interlocal Agreement for Public School Facility Planning between Miami-Dade County and Miami-Dade County Public Schools and any amendments affecting public school concurrency.

ICE-2C. Impacts on facilities of State, regional and local governments shall be included in impact fee ordinances which may be established by Miami-Dade County. These impact fees shall be applied to those geographic and jurisdictional areas which will benefit from the facilities funded by the fees. The area where each impact fee shall apply shall be determined by the Board of County Commissioners at the time said fee is established.

ICE-2D. Miami-Dade County shall continue to coordinate with non-County entities having services planning and provision responsibilities in Miami-Dade County with respect to areawide and unincorporated area local Levels of Service:

• State and federal roadways - Florida Department of Transportation
• Drainage - South Florida Water Management District
• Potable water supply - South Florida Water Management District
• Regional policies - South Florida Regional Planning Council
• Public educational facilities – Miami-Dade County Public Schools

ICE-2E. Utilize informal approaches and formal coordination mechanisms afforded by the inter-government review and comment provisions of the Community Planning Act to provide opportunities for Miami-Dade County municipalities to comment on the Level of Service for areawide services established by the County.

ICE-2F. Miami-Dade County shall enter into an Interlocal Agreement with the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority to further implement the policies set forth in this Plan related to the SR-836/Dolphin Expressway southwest extension.

Objective ICE-3

Encourage the use of interlocal agreements and municipal boundary changes to improve coordination of local development and the effective and efficient delivery of local services.

Policies

ICE-3A. Promote the use of County-city interlocal agreements to provide for extra-jurisdictional service deliveries where efficiency and effectiveness can be enhanced.

ICE-3B. Miami-Dade County shall maintain procedures in the Code of Miami-Dade County providing for initiation and consideration of proposals for municipal incorporation, annexation, and other boundary changes, in accordance with provisions of the Miami-Dade County Charter. This Plan hereby adopts and incorporates by reference provisions of the Miami-Dade Charter regarding municipal incorporation, annexation and boundary changes, as authorized by Article VIII, Section 6 of the Florida Constitution. Moreover, with regard to municipalities newly created or approved for boundary change, the County shall seek to establish mutually acceptable arrangements with the municipality for the planning area, which may include contractual or other agreements regarding the delivery of public services, conduct or coordination of land use planning or development regulatory activities, or other governmental functions, consistent with the County Charter.

ICE-3C. Utilize the following guidelines in analyzing the appropriateness of municipal boundary change proposals:

• Comparative ability of County and city to provide adopted or proposed levels of service within the proposed area of change, apace with projected development.
• Comparative County and city governmental costs to owners of typical properties within the proposed area and within the entire jurisdiction.
• Comparative County and city net fiscal impacts based on analysis of estimates of facilities and services expenditures and major sources of revenue associated with the subject area.
• Consistency of development proposed for the area with County and city comprehensive plans.
• Geographical contiguity and logic of existing and proposed jurisdictional boundaries.

ICE-3D. Encourage the establishment of formal agreements among the necessary governmental bodies to implement coordinated planning for the development of public facilities and services.

ICE-3E. Development activities shall adhere to the guidelines, policies and provisions of applicable interlocal agreements.

ICE-3F. Encourage the creation or development of a State and/or regional finance corporation that is empowered to enter into interlocal agreements with cities and counties to increase available credit for new and expanding businesses.

ICE-3G. Maintain and utilize the authority provided in the Miami-Dade County Home Rule Charter for the County to maintain, site, construct and/or operate public facilities in incorporated and unincorporated areas of the County. Furthermore, in order to protect and promote the health, safety, order, convenience, and welfare of the residents, the County shall retain regulatory control over land use, development and service delivery for all facilities of countywide significance as listed in Table 3. While the County reserves all rights provided by the Miami-Dade County Home Rule Charter, when siting facilities of countywide significance within the boundaries of an incorporated municipality, the County will consider the municipal comprehensive plan and development regulations, as well as the need for the public facility and suitable alternative locations. The County shall at a minimum retain the authority to enforce covenants accepted in connection with Comprehensive Development Master Plan (CDMP) or Zoning approvals to provide facilities of countywide significance in areas subsequently incorporated, or annexed into existing municipalities.

ICE-3H. Miami-Dade County will maintain, as a particular area of attention in this planning program, the systematic review of the aesthetics and physical conditions along boundaries between incorporated municipalities and unincorporated areas in an effort to improve the appearance of these areas and the compatibility and transition between the adjoining communities. Miami-Dade County will similarly review and approve changes to the land use, development and zoning of properties that surround facilities of countywide significance, as listed in the Table 3, in an effort to maintain or improve the compatibility and transition between the adjoining properties and the facilities. Formal agreement to conduct these reviews or to implement the resulting recommendations will be proposed as warranted.

Table 3

Facilities of Countywide Significance

Objective ICE-4

Maintain consistent and coordinated planning and management of major natural resources within areas with multi-government jurisdictional responsibilities.

Policies

ICE-4A. Continue Miami-Dade County’s role as the primary local government responsible for Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve planning and management.

ICE-4B. Miami-Dade County shall encourage the South Florida Water Management District and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to coordinate and fund joint Miami-Dade/Monroe County management planning for the Card Sound portion of the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve.

ICE-4C. The Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources shall continue to coordinate with U.S. Department of Interior and Florida Governor's Office in the refinement, updating and implementation of management policies and regulations for the Big Cypress Preserve and Area of Critical State Concern.

ICE-4D. Miami-Dade County through its planning, zoning, permitting and capital improvements processes shall continue to cooperate with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, the South Florida Water Management District, Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in implementing adopted County, State and federal plans to manage and restore the environmentally sensitive Everglades.

ICE-4E. Miami-Dade County shall promote better coordination of land use, natural resources and water supply planning, with special attention to approaches involving the management of the ecosystem.

ICE-4F. It is the policy of Miami-Dade County to coordinate with the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) in its water supply and management planning and permitting processes, Miami-Dade County's adopted population projections, spatial characteristics of the CDMP Land Use Plan map, and policies of the CDMP Land Use, Water, Sewer and Solid Waste, Conservation, and Coastal Management Elements. It is further County policy to accommodate future projected population and economic growth by utilizing the range of alternative water supply technologies outlined under CDMP Water and Sewer Sub-element Objective WS-6 and identified in the current Water Use Permit, including sources from expanded and/or new Floridan Aquifer wellfields, Floridian Aquifer storage and recover (ASR) techniques, water conservation methods, water reclamation, water and wastewater reuse and other advanced technologies.

Objective ICE-5

Initiate and support cooperative inter-jurisdictional approaches to special intra-regional planning needs.

Policies

ICE-5A. Miami-Dade County shall request the South Florida Regional Planning Council to coordinate the planning for intra-regional issues as the need arises.

ICE-5B. Miami-Dade County shall work with the South Florida Water Management District to coordinate regional plans and programs, including the Lower East Coast Regional Water Supply Plan, the Surface Water Improvement and Management Plan for Biscayne Bay, the Biscayne Bay Regional Restoration Coordination Team Action Plan, and the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, with Miami-Dade County plans and programs.

ICE-5C. Miami-Dade County shall continue to participate in regional resource planning and management activities undertaken by State, federal and regional agencies addressing natural resources, such as water supply and fish and wildlife, and economic development and service delivery functions, as such activities may be initiated from time to time. These include, but are not limited to resource planning and management activities of Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park, the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, and the Water Resources Advisory Commission; water management and supply plans prepared by the South Florida Water Management District; and the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan; and the County will cooperate with adjacent counties and municipalities in similar activities that they may initiate.

ICE-5D. In the conduct of its infrastructure and service planning and development function, including transportation, water, sewer and solid waste disposal functions, Miami-Dade County shall consider entering into cooperative agreements with adjacent counties and municipalities in adjacent counties where such arrangements are operationally, financially or environmentally beneficial.

ICE-5E. In its development of future potable water supplies and the County’s Water Supply Facilities Work Plan as outlined in Objective WS-7, Miami-Dade County shall consider, and be compatible, with the goals of the South Florida Water Management District’s Lower East Coast Regional Water Supply Plan.

ICE-5F. The County shall continue participation in the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact and shall coordinate with other agencies, local municipalities, and the private sector to develop initiatives and goals to address climate change mitigation and adaptation. Climate change related goals that support regional climate change objectives shall be integrated into the CDMP as appropriate.

ICE-5G. All County departmental master plans and strategic business plans shall include and prioritize climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. Climate change related amendments shall be recommended through the next feasible, regularly scheduled amendment process or departmental master plan update for each respective planning document.

a) Each County department shall consider extending planning horizons (i.e. 30, 50, 75-year plans) as appropriate to adequately address the projected long-term climate change impacts into resource allocation recommendations.

b) All new departmental climate change policies and programs shall be monitored for effectiveness.

Objective ICE-6

Coordinate the designation of new disposal sites for dredged spoils in the coastal area with government agencies with spoils disposal responsibilities.

Policies

ICE-6A. Continue to work cooperatively with the Florida Inland Navigation District, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other appropriate State and federal agencies and the public in providing for or identifying disposal sites for dredged spoils in the coastal area for local governments with spoils disposal responsibilities.

ICE-6B. Disputes or conflicts arising between a coastal local government and a public agency seeking a disposal site for dredged spoils shall be resolved through zoning or permitting process.

Objective ICE-7

Encourage the achievement of a coordinated strategy for regional economic development that addresses opportunities and threats and promotes assets in South Florida for sports and entertainment, international business, tourism and other economic development activities.

Policies

ICE-7A. Conduct or promote collaborative research efforts to better understand the impacts and benefits of sports and entertainment, international business, tourism and other economic development activities.

ICE-7B. Encourage the development of a South Florida Regional International Affairs Consortium to address regional issues concerned with international trade and business and other cooperative arrangements with South Florida local and regional governmental entities to promote socially and environmentally sound economic development of the region.

ICE-7C. Promote the integration of economic development efforts with Statewide initiatives including Enterprise Florida.

Objective ICE-8

Ensure adequate and timely shelter within the region for those residing in hurricane evacuation areas by encouraging all levels of government to work together.

Policies

ICE-8A. Encourage local governments and federal, State and regional agencies to protect the population by developing a system of emergency communication on roadways including electronically-controlled message signs and a radio station to broadcast highway conditions.

ICE-8B. Promote the establishment and maintenance of mutual aid agreements among local governments to protect the population.

ICE-8C. The Miami-Dade County Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources and the Office of Emergency Management shall facilitate the coordination of emergency planning issues by increasing interaction.

ICE-8D. Encourage local, regional, State and federal agencies and organizations to work together in evaluating the existing criteria for designating places for shelter and reaching consensus. Such criteria should include but not be limited to: locations of shelter; structural integrity of shelter; space provided per person; and availability of essential provisions.

ICE-8E. Promote the coordination by federal, State, regional and local agencies of a public information and awareness program concerning various types of hazards and appropriate response.

Monitoring Program

In order to enable the preparation of the periodic evaluation and appraisal of the comprehensive plan required by Section 163.3191, Florida Statutes (F.S.), the criteria requires that local comprehensive plans should contain adopted procedures for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the Plan. This section outlines the substantive components of Miami-Dade County's monitoring program pertinent to the objectives, policies and parameters referenced in the Intergovernmental Coordination Element.

An important part of the implementation of the Intergovernmental Coordination Element will be the programs for monitoring of progress and evaluation of accomplishments. These programs are set forth in the following section. The monitoring program will consist of periodic reviews of

the measurable objectives. The intervals for these reviews and the assignment of responsibility are described below.

Intervals

The periodic reviews of measurable objectives will occur on these schedules: Biennially and at other appropriate intervals.

Biennially - The following will be measured following each Comprehensive Development Master Plan biennial amendment cycle:

Objective ICE-1.

• Number and significance of comments made to and responses received from Miami-Dade municipalities, adjacent counties and adjacent-county adjacent municipalities in conjunction with review of amendments to the Miami-Dade County Comprehensive Development Master Plan and the comprehensive plans of the other entities.
• Use of non-binding dispute resolution process when necessary to resolve disputes.
• Increased frequency of planning workshops and level of attendance as indication of usefulness.
• Increased frequency of joint meetings of technical committees of the Metropolitan Planning Organizations of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties to deal with regional transportation issues.
• Usage of Development of County Impact procedures to coordinate development with inter-jurisdictional impact.

Objective ICE-2.

• Continued use of areawide and unincorporated area Level of Service Standards as contained in the Capital Improvements Element of the Comprehensive Development Master Plan.

Objective ICE-3.

• Application of guidelines in review of municipal annexation requests.
• Usage of formal agreements among the necessary governmental bodies for effective and efficient delivery of services.

Objective ICE-4.

• Continued participation by County agencies in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) planning and management review teams consisting of interagency from three levels of government, local, state and federal.
• Continued participation by County agencies in development of water supply plans as periodically developed by the South Florida Water Management District.

Objective ICE-5.

• Continued participation by County agencies in the development and implementation of regional plans and programs.

• Continued support by the County of cooperative initiatives for regional planning needs through membership on regional resource committees.
• Continued participation in the development, implementation and evaluation of climate change initiatives and goals.

Objective ICE-6.

• Increased participation by County agencies in the planning for new disposal sites for dredged spoils and in the processes for dispute resolution.

Objective ICE-7.

• Continued partaking by County agencies in the economic development planning efforts of State and regional agencies.

Objective ICE-8.

• Continued participation by County agencies in regional planning meetings that address emergency management issues.

Other Appropriate Intervals - The following will be evaluated at a suitable interval, but not less than biennially:

• Executed interlocal agreements for municipal servicing of unincorporated enclave areas. (Objective ICE-3)
• Funding of joint Miami-Dade/Monroe County Management Plan for Card Sound portion of Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve. (Objective ICE-4)
• County requests for South Florida Regional Planning Council to coordinate planning for intra-regional issues. (Objective ICE-5)
• Status of off-site improvements completed pursuant to executed Campus Development Agreements. (Objective ICE-1)